What is Narcotics Anonymous?
Narcotics Anonymous (NA) is a global, non-profit support group that provides a safe and welcoming environment for individuals recovering from drug addiction. Founded in the 1950s, NA now holds over 70,000 meetings worldwide, offering a peer-based approach to recovery. Meetings are designed to be free of charge, ensuring accessibility for everyone seeking help. The program emphasizes anonymity, mutual support, and a twelve-step recovery framework. The regular scheduling of NA meetings in every city around the country allows for consistent support on the road to sobriety. For those affected by drug use, it’s important to understand the various street names for weed and other substances; you can explore a detailed list to better recognize and address the challenges associated with addiction.
Meeting Locations and Details
New York NA Meeting
Address: 123 Main Street, New York, NY, 10001
Meeting Times:
- Mondays: 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM
- Thursdays: 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM
Meeting Methods:
- Open to all comers: family, friends, or anybody else
- Conducted as a twelve-step discussion
- Personal sharing, topic-focused discussions, literature readings
Chicago NA Meeting
Address: 456 Elm Avenue, Chicago, IL, 60610
Meeting Times:
- Tuesdays: 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM
- Fridays: 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
Meeting Methods:
- Closed meetings for addicted people in recovery.
- Focuses on step-study sessions and group support activities.
- Emphasis on having a network of accountability and encouragement.
Los Angeles NA Meeting
Address: 789 Oak Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA, 90012
Meeting Times:
- Wednesdays: 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
- Sundays: 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM
Meeting Methods:
- Hybrid format in-person and virtual participation
- Includes beginner-focused sessions to introduce newcomers to the twelve-step process.
- Provides long-term recovery resources, including sponsor matching and literature distribution.
Key Features of NA Meetings
- Confidentiality: All meetings follow strict rules to ensure anonymity.
- Peer Support: Members share experiences, difficulties, and how they overcame their addictions.
- Accessibility: Meetings are free and offered in various formats, such as open, closed, and hybrid sessions.
- Inclusivity: Anyone, regardless of background or recovery stage, is welcome.
For a complete list of NA meetings in your area, please visit the official Narcotics Anonymous website or consult local directories.
The 12 Steps of Narcotics Anonymous
The NA 12 Steps are systematic to provide a clear path that members can follow in recovery. These steps, as followed by members in the United States and beyond, are meant to incite introspection, accountability, and long-term change.
- Admit powerlessness over addiction and recognize the unmanageability of life.
- Believe that a higher power can restore hope and sanity.
- Make a decision to turn one’s life and will over to the care of a higher power.
- Make a searching and fearless moral inventory of one’s good qualities as well as defects.
- Admit one’s wrongs to oneself, a higher power, and another human being.
- Readiness to have all personal character defects removed.
- Humbly ask a higher power to remove shortcoming.
- Make a list of all persons harmed and become ready to make amends to them.
- Make direct amends where possible, except when to do so might injure them.
- Keep working on personal behavior and promptly admit having been wrong.
- Pray or meditate to help improve connection with a higher power.
- Give the message of recovery to others and practice these principals in all affairs.
The steps allow for personal growth, accountability, and connection to a supportive community, making the process holistic in overcoming addiction.
Getting Started with NA in the USA
It is easy and convenient to find a Narcotics Anonymous meeting in the USA. Utilize the meeting finder tool provided on Methadone.org to find local NA gatherings that suit your needs. Meetings come in many forms: in-community space in-person meetings, virtual meetings that one can attend from the comfort of their couch. This way, the support system is within reach for literally anyone, anywhere.
Attending Your First Local NA Meeting
Open vs. Closed Meetings
| Meeting Type | Descripción |
|---|---|
| Open Meetings | Open to all interested, including friends, family, and supporters. These are good to learn more about NA and its community. |
| Closed Meetings | For addicts in recovery only. This is where sharing can occur in safety and confidence. |
Before attending any meeting, it is a good idea to learn the meeting type to ensure it is one that will suit your needs and preferences.
First Meeting Tips
- Arrive Early: 10-15 minutes can be enough to introduce yourself and ask some questions as a newcomer.
- Introduce Yourself: NA allows people to share, if they want to and are ready, their names and experience; however, there is no compulsion whatsoever to disclose personal information about oneself.
- Share at Your Level of Comfort: You can share your story if you’re comfortable, or you might just want to listen for inspiration and guidance.
- Welcome Tag: A welcome keychain tag is given to every member at their first meeting as a symbol of starting your recovery journey.
Keychain Tag Milestones
Members of NA celebrate recovery milestones with colored tags:
- 30 Days: First month clean.
- 60 Days: Completion of the second month.
- 1 Year: A major milestone recognizing a full year of recovery.
Tags are motivational tokens, marking progress and dedication to sobriety.